Spinach

920 foods contain this ingredient

Vegetable

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About Spinach

Spinach is a leafy green added to pet food in small amounts for its vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant plant compounds.

Spinach is used in pet foods as a leafy vegetable to provide fiber, moisture, and micronutrients such as vitamins A, C and K, folate, iron and antioxidant compounds, but it is not a primary protein source. While it can add low‑calorie nutrients and antioxidants to a dog or cat’s diet, spinach is high in oxalates (and can contain nitrates) which in large amounts may reduce mineral absorption or contribute to urinary/kidney issues in susceptible animals, so it should be fed in moderation and pets with specific health concerns should consult their veterinarian.

Derived from: spinach leaves (Spinacia oleracea)
Primary role: micronutrient and antioxidant source

Why it's used

Spinach contributes vitamins A, C, and K, folate, iron, and antioxidant plant compounds without adding much fat or calories. It is included as a supporting vegetable ingredient rather than a source of protein or energy.

Common concerns

Oxalate content Spinach is high in oxalates, which bind calcium and other minerals and are a documented factor discussed with calcium oxalate bladder stones in dogs and cats, per VCA Animal Hospitals.
Nitrates Spinach naturally contains nitrates, which can convert to nitrites in the body and are associated with methemoglobinemia, a blood disorder that affects oxygen transport.
Pets with a history of bladder stones VCA Animal Hospitals notes that dogs and cats with a prior calcium oxalate stone diagnosis are typically advised to avoid high-oxalate foods like spinach.

Also relevant

For pets without a history of urinary stones or mineral-absorption issues, veterinary sources describe leafy greens like spinach as fine in the small quantities typically found in pet food.

3 sources cited